The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The Inner Sect hummed with life as another day faded into twilight. Lanterns began to glow along winding stone paths, and the faint murmurs of disciples training and scheming filled the air.

In his quarters, Ye Tian studied the Fire Spirit Jade he'd obtained the night before. Its fiery light pulsed softly in his hand, a treasure that could enhance spiritual roots by leaps and bounds. For anyone else, this might have been the end of their ambition—but for Ye Tian, it was just the beginning.

A faint knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he said casually, pocketing the jade.

The door creaked open, revealing Lan Yue. Tonight, her emerald robes were looser, almost casual, yet she carried herself with the same quiet confidence. A gentle breeze swirled through the room, carrying the faint scent of plum blossoms.

"Senior Sister Lan Yue," Ye Tian said with a small smile. "I didn't expect you to visit again so soon."

Lan Yue stepped inside without hesitation, her sharp eyes scanning the room as if to confirm something. Satisfied, she leaned lightly against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"I had a feeling you'd already begun causing trouble," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "And judging by the rumors about Jiang Hao's men… I was right."

Ye Tian's smile didn't waver. "Is that admiration I hear, Senior Sister?"

Lan Yue raised a brow. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm merely curious about how someone so new to the Inner Sect already has people sharpening their knives for him."

Ye Tian shrugged lightly. "Perhaps they just don't like my face."

Her lips twitched. "Or perhaps you're more ambitious than you let on."

Ye Tian leaned back, his golden eyes meeting hers without hesitation. "And what about you, Senior Sister? Why the sudden interest in my affairs?"

Lan Yue's gaze softened slightly. She stepped away from the doorframe and approached the window, her silhouette illuminated by the moonlight filtering through. For a long moment, she was silent, as though weighing her next words.

"Because I see myself in you," she said at last.

Ye Tian's smile faltered ever so slightly. "Oh?"

Lan Yue turned to face him, her expression uncharacteristically candid. "When I entered the Inner Sect, I was like you—alone, surrounded by wolves, and unsure of who to trust. I learned the hard way that alliances matter. Strength alone can only take you so far."

Ye Tian studied her carefully, noting the faint edge of vulnerability in her voice. Lan Yue was a master at hiding her emotions, but tonight, she'd let something slip.

"You don't seem the type to need allies, Senior Sister," he said quietly.

Lan Yue chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. "I've survived because I chose my allies carefully. You may be strong, Ye Tian, but the Inner Sect will test you in ways you can't imagine. If you're not careful, you'll be devoured before you even realize it."

For the first time, Ye Tian felt a flicker of genuine understanding pass between them. Lan Yue wasn't testing him—she was offering him something real. Not control, not manipulation, but… trust.

"You think I need help," he said, his voice calm but softer than before.

"I think you need someone who understands the game you're playing," Lan Yue replied. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"

Ye Tian looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "Trust is a luxury I can't afford."

Lan Yue held his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Perhaps. But sometimes, a well-placed ally can be the difference between survival and death."

The two of them stood in silence, the tension between them shifting subtly. For once, Ye Tian didn't feel the need to put up walls. Lan Yue's presence was sharp but not suffocating, like a blade at his side rather than pointed at his throat.

"I'll consider your offer," Ye Tian said finally, his voice quieter than before.

Lan Yue tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "That's all I ask."

She turned to leave, but paused at the doorway. "One more thing, Ye Tian. Be careful of Jiang Hao. His pride won't allow him to let last night's… failure go unnoticed."

Ye Tian's golden eyes glinted faintly. "Let him come."

Lan Yue smirked. "I thought you'd say that."

With that, she slipped out into the night, leaving Ye Tian alone once more.

But this time, the room felt a little less empty.

A New Plan Forms

As the moon rose higher in the sky, Ye Tian sat by the window, his thoughts lingering on Lan Yue's words.

Trust is a luxury I can't afford… but perhaps, for now, I can borrow it.

Lan Yue's interest in him wasn't entirely selfless, of course. She was a player in the sect's games just like everyone else. But unlike Jiang Hao and the others, she had approached him openly, with no veiled threats or pretenses.

That made her valuable.

Ye Tian's fingers traced the outline of the Fire Spirit Jade in his pocket. He couldn't afford to be reckless—Lan Yue was right about that. The Inner Sect was a battlefield, and he was still a lone wolf.

But wolves didn't survive alone forever. Sometimes, they formed packs.

First Jiang Hao, then the others… I'll tear down their factions one piece at a time.

His golden eyes gleamed coldly in the moonlight, his mind already turning with plans.

Jiang Hao Strikes Back

The next morning, Ye Tian woke to the sound of voices echoing outside his quarters. Stepping out, he found a small crowd of disciples gathered in the courtyard, whispering anxiously.

At the center of the commotion stood Jiang Hao, flanked by a group of his lackeys. His face was dark with anger, and his piercing gaze swept over the crowd like a stormcloud.

"Someone dared steal what belongs to me," Jiang Hao growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I will give them one chance to come forward and return what they've taken… or I'll tear this sect apart to find them."

Ye Tian watched the scene unfold from the edge of the crowd, his expression calm and unbothered. Jiang Hao's men were weak. Their failure to guard the Fire Spirit Jade had already cost him face, and now Jiang Hao was trying to salvage his reputation by throwing his weight around.

"Pathetic," Ye Tian muttered under his breath.

As Jiang Hao's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes narrowed slightly when they landed on Ye Tian. For a brief moment, the two locked eyes—one filled with cold fury, the other calm and unyielding.

You'll come for me soon enough, Ye Tian thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. And when you do, I'll be ready.

Jiang Hao said nothing, but the unspoken challenge hung heavy in the air.